Automobile-door latch.



E. S. DAVID AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAII.24. I9Ie.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3mm/Mofa MA www,

ERNEST S. DAVID, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-DOOR LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 24, 191e. seria1 No. 86,360.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST S. DAVID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the count of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile- Door Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to latches for automobile doors, and relates more specially to means for actuating the latch, to Acause the release thereof, by electrical means, from a source of power such as is usually carried on vehicles of that class. On account of the variety of means provided on different automobiles for operating the latch of the door it is frequently a diiicult matter for a person desiring to leave the car to suitably actuate the same, and many of the means provided are inconvenient or easily get out of order, so that considerable time is frequently devoted to the operation thereof.

By the use of my device the latch is quickly released merely by pressing a button at a convenient spot, permitting the door to Swing freely open. In connection therewith are provided means for manual operation of the latch, in case the same should become necessary at any time through failure of the electrical power.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile body embodying my invention, with some of the parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of my device.

1 represents a section of the'body of an automobile, having a door 2 hingedly connected with said body, as at a, and provided with an inner frame 3. In said frame a hand-lever 4 is pivotally mounted, as at l?, said leverv projecting above the top of the door for suitable operation. Connected with the lever 4 is a latch 5, slidable in a recess 6 in the frame 3, and adapted to enter a recess 7 in the'frame of the body 1 adjacent to the forward edge of the door, and hold such door from movement. Fixed to the frame 3 is an electro-magnetic coil 8, in

which a core 9 has longitudinal play, the outer end of said core being -pivotally connected with the lever 4. The coil 1 is connected by wires 10 and 11 with a battery 12 carried on the body 1 or running board there- `to secure by Letters Patent of the United of.v On the upper edge of the door 2 is a push-button 13, by the operation of which a circuit is closed, energizing the coil 8, and

drawing the lever 4 and latch 5 inwardly, permitting the door to be opened.

In case the battery, or other source of electrical energy is too weak to suitably actuate Patented Apr. ic, reis.

the latch, the same can be withdrawn from engagement with the body frame by means of the lever 4. To assist in holding the latch normally in operative position a coiled spring 14 is interposed between the frame 3 and lever 4, the action of such spring being to force the lever toward the forward edge ofthe door.

In Fig. 2 is shown a form of the device in which a latch 15 is slidable in the frame 3, and is adapted to enter a recess 16 in the body l. Connected with the latch 15 is a U-shaped corel 17, slidable in a twin coil 18 secured to the frame 3. Said coil is con nected by means of wires 19 and 20 with a battery 21, and on the upper edge of the door 'is a button 22 by the operation of which the circuit is closed and the latch drawn inwardly to release the door. A coil spring 23 holds the latch 15 normally in engaging position.

A handle 24 is pivoted to the frame of the door, as at c, the pivot of said handle being provided with a pin 25 which engages the core 17. By this means if it is desired to release the latch without resorting to the electrical devices, the same can be accomplished by turning the handle in a direction to force the pin 25 against the core 17 and cause an inward movement thereof.

It will be geen that the actuating devices hereinbefore described can be concealed within the frame of the door, all that is disclosed upon the "door itself, in addition to the usual latch operating devices, being the button on the upper edge of the door. Such button may be located at any other suitable point, as on the back of the front seat of the vehicle, or at a place for convenient op States, is: Y

'The combination, with the body of an MDG Ril@

automobile and. door' swingingly mounted elly operable circuit closet; and e henolle i0 therein, of en eleotio-megnetie coil mounted operatively connected with seid core, to indieon the treme ol seid door; e core nnoveloleY pendlently release seid. latch.

in Seidl coil, at latch slideble in seiol frame, ln testimony whefeof l a my signature operatively connected with Seidl core, endl in the presence of two Witnesses.

adapted to engage the body of seid automo- ERNEST S. DAVllD,

bile to hold seid door from movement; Witnesses:

means for imparting electrical energy to Seidl i W. N. Hes'mm,

coil to statuette seid core, including e. menu- FRANK W, Heem., 

